McFarland Mental Health Center
Reviews and Complaints

My daughters has many mental s
issues anorexic bipolar and others . she is 32 and in the hospital now they have mentioned to her this hospital . will she be save there and get the care and help she will need ?

IS IT TRUE ARE THEY CLOSING THIS HOSPITAL?I HEARD ALOT OF STORIES ABOUT THIS PLACE.

This will seem off your initial topic but I
Cannot pass up the opportunity to once again state my experience while a patient there although it was over forty years ago. At that time, the facility used foreign doctors who had been unable to pass their exams in this country. Such doctors were not allowed to practice anywhere, even prisons except mental health facilities. While there I was sexually molested, raped to be precise, by a doctor named Angelito Capistrano. I was not the only one. The other young women also reported such abuse. When I went to the nurse, I was told that we, the patients were in there for a reason and was dismissed as mentally incompetent. Many years later after suppressing these events, an circumstance arose whereby all of this came flooding back to me. It was post traumatic distress disorder and once again this man was able to take over my life. I actually was able to find a phone number for him. When I got the nerve to call I actually found myself talking with him. After explaining who I was until I could here the glimmer of recognition in his voice, I remarked that I remembered everything. He never asked what I was talking about. He began saying, " Oh my god, oh my god" over and over again. And " oh my god no". Twenty years have gone by since this call. He needn't have said more. I knew then. I will always know and I will never forget. Don't ever go to this place. I was in my early twenties at the time suffering from depression. As I say now, I went in sane and came out insane.

Totally agree with this complaint

Just saying, after I read Patricia's complaint mentioning his behavior with BPD patients ..it makes me wonder if he now refuses to admit any other women with BPD now besides just me or if it's just coincidence.

I remember sensing something off from Greg Coughlin when I was there in February 2012. I have BPD and had tried to [censored] while I was there by breaking the window in my room and swallowing the glass. He ended up suggesting I just be discharged back to Champaign two weeks later. I was given up on after two weeks by Greg Coughling who convinced me and my Case Manger for outpatient services that it would better for me if I just left because the atmosphere of the unit combined with my BPD would make it impossible for me to make progress. I remember another woman trying to hang herself from her bed. I never sensed anything sexual from Greg, but did feel like I was "favored" by him sometimes and given treats from him because of my diagnosis, not cause I earned it.
Now, I have fallen through the cracks and no hospitals admit me. Even though I severely need long term treatment and help in an environment where the staff can keep me safe from self-harm, anytime crises calls to check to have me admitted to McFarland, I get told by crisis that the "unit director" told them absolutely not. Yet I was not considered as a danger to others while there...just a danger to myself.

I would not ever let anyone I care about go to this facility ever again. My ex-husband (while we were still married) ended up being transferred to McFarland after being in a local hospital for suicidal tendencies. He had many issues, and the local doctors felt he needed much longer treatment than they could provide. He was in less than a week and sent home. Ended up back in the local hospital within a week and transferred back to Springfield again. This happened 3 times within less than 2 months. Each time they put him on more meds with higher doses and sent him home within a week. After the third time of being released he, almost successfully, attempted suicide. Of course was sent back to McFarland where they put him on lethal amounts of drugs. He was in the facility for 3 months this time. When he got released he was a zombie. So drugged up he was drooling on himself and completely unable to function. His local doctor was appalled and started weaning him off the meds. I'm glad to say he's finally better (with the proper treatment) but had he continued with the treatment they gave him at this "medical facility" I have no doubt that he would be dead.

IS IT SAFE FOR MY DAUGHTER TO BE THERE?SHE IS BEING SENT THERE FROM BLESSINGS BEHAVIORAL HOSPITAL.MY NAME IS SUE PARKER AND MY DAUGHTER'S NAME IS AMANDA MAE PARKER.YOU CAN CONTACT ME BY PHONE MY NUMBER IS [protected] AND MY EMAIL ADDRESS IS parkersue29@yahoo.com PLEASE LET ME KNOW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

Please do apply there. They need new staff. I cannot really imagine how they are going to continue to stay open with what is going on there though. They do not help the patients. It is a waste of state money and everyone's time. Many of the patients get abused. I have been researching the staff and interviewing patients and their families for a discovery project concerning state hospitals. My findings surrounding McFarland have far been the worst. What good does it do to complain to someone like Mr. Donathan when he himself is dirty. I interviewed a previous patient who was raped by him multiple times in a restroom. It doesn't matter whether or not a patient gives consent for such contact when they are not well and easily taken advantage of. It is a crime. Of course, all the staff has to say is that any allegations are not true and back it up with the patients diagnosis. They get away with horrible things. The patients should be safe and given proper care but in many cases they are not. It is just a prison where people eat, sleep and get disrespected. The complete document will be published by the end of the year. I will try to remember to come back and post a link at that time.

Alex Lee